Stansted Airport employees are mentoring students at Forest Hall School for the eighth year.
Almost 100 Year 11 pupils at the Mountfitchet secondary have been paired up with staff over the course of the partnership.
This year’s 10 volunteers, from a variety of airport roles, will share life and business experiences and support teenagers during their GCSE year with fortnightly visits.
Alex Smith, education manager at Stansted Airport, said: “We’re delighted to resume our mentoring partnership with Forest Hall School after a two-year break due to the pandemic.
“The mentoring scheme aims to assist young people in developing life and work skills essential for the future. It covers topics such as time management, next steps after GCSEs and how to maintain a good work-life balance.”
Taking part in the programme for the first time is landside operations control room manager Charmaine Sweeney. She said: “Sharing my experiences with young people and giving them my time is something I’m really looking forward to.
“The programme benefits young people by building confidence, so if you have a supportive mentor and are open to self-development, you can accomplish anything. Being able to watch someone you invest time in grow and succeed will be incredibly rewarding.”
Forest Hall’s head of Year 11, Chris Wade, said: “The mentors will help our students prepare for their GCSEs next year, as well as assist with career planning.
“Having mentors who have backgrounds other than teaching can offer links to careers that pupils may want to pursue, as well as a glimpse into the duties and responsibilities of working in the business world.
“These sessions have always benefitted our students in terms of their academic achievement and personal growth, particularly in their confidence in speaking with adults.”
The airport’s corporate social responsibility work also includes education schemes like its on-site Stansted Airport Employment Academy, Aerozone education centre and Stansted Airport College, a first for any UK airport.
These facilities sit alongside the airport’s graduate and apprenticeship programmes to help people find work and bridge the current skills gap in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects.
